1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word anxiety distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of anxiety are care, concern, solicitude, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

Where would care be a reasonable alternative to anxiety?

The meanings of care and anxiety largely overlap; however, care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When would concern be a good substitute for anxiety?

The words concern and anxiety can be used in similar contexts, but concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When is it sensible to use solicitude instead of anxiety?

The synonyms solicitude and anxiety are sometimes interchangeable, but solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

When might worry be a better fit than anxiety?

The words worry and anxiety are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety.

financial worries

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anxiety Instead, this study revealed an association between reported feelings of anxiety on Mondays and excessive levels of glucocorticoid production. New Atlas, 13 July 2025 If so, this is perhaps the worst time for Love Island USA to be on tv, since 78% of Americans are experiencing some level of anxiety. Taylor Crumpton, Time, 13 July 2025 The crinkling sound of the ostomy bag, like a chip bag due to its medical film, caused her constant anxiety. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 13 July 2025 That has been causing major anxiety for national Republicans, who fear that Paxton – dogged by indictments and an impeachment – would struggle in a general election and create an opening for Texas Democrats who have long sought to flip a statewide seat. Riley Beggin, USA Today, 12 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for anxiety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxiety
Noun
  • Concerns of fear growing in migrant communities Mora said this issue runs deep for him and others who work in immigration law.
    Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 23 July 2025
  • Several top Trump administration officials sold off stock market holdings in the days leading up to the president’s announcements of sweeping tariffs that sparked fears of a global trade war and rattled financial markets.
    Suhail Bhat, USA Today, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • Anyone who has broken in a pair of sandals knows the dread of a blister after a day of walking, but that’s not an issue with this pair.
    Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 16 July 2025
  • As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025
Noun
  • The details for Alphabet will be necessary, as the stock has been held back by worries that artificial intelligence (AI) will disrupt their search business.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
  • Optimism about the power of technology and innovation was mixed with worries about geopolitics and the state of civil society.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • According to the report, the lightning strike left beachgoers, swimmers and surfers in a panic, and many ran for their cars in the immediate aftermath.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
  • Steven was there for Conrad in that moment too, finding him on the beach hyperventilating and talking him out of the panic to distract him.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Privacy and security concerns with smart thermostats These programs also raise important data privacy concerns.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
  • The report found that concerns were often handled informally without adequate record-keeping, and that freelance staff felt reluctant to complain due to job insecurity.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Other countries were still expressing unease, however.
    Brit Morse, Fortune, 6 July 2025
  • But progress on this front has been slow, most likely due to China’s increasing unease with Iranian foreign policy and doubts about its long-term stability.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • Sami Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor who is associated with the Gaza Tribunal, admitted to conspiring to aid the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in 2006.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 July 2025
  • Gaza would be razed, much like Dresden or Hiroshima, in order to eliminate the danger of terror attacks on Israel coming from Gaza.
    Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Well, consider that, unlike what’s happening in the world at large, the frights and delights inside Viola’s Room are actually fun.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 26 June 2025
  • Ah well, Cesare already has two sequel novels published, so there’s already plenty more Frendo the Clown frights ready to be harvested.
    Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 9 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anxiety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxiety. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on anxiety

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!